Has anyone used Feather Fast?

[rfn1]

It contains Protein and Vitamins A, D3, C E and a bunch of minerals and amino acids. Labeled a "dietary supplement to aid and promote successful moults". The reason I ask is that I think it may have contributed to one of my stars losing a lot of feathers a month ago, from which she is now recovering. But I wonder if that is supposed to happen that way and, now that some of my goulds are moulting I wonder if I should give them this same supplement. Thoughts?

[Sally]

Gouldians have a much heavier, more pronounced molt, so I think they need extra supplements to help them thru it--it is hard on them. Probably any of the supplements that are labeled to help the birds thru a molt would work.

[beccafigs]

I've used it sparingly with my zebras through their molt. Once they'd been on it a while I seemed to see far more feathers laying around but they don't have any bare patches except for one hen with a bald butt, but I think it's unrelated to the supplement. (I've realized recently that a little plucker of mine is back to his bad habit.) I go a little light on the dose myself, but everything I have tried from morning bird has been good so far, so I'm sure the recommended dose is just fine.

[spector]

I've never used it, but in a related topic, I attended a Q&A at my local bird club a few months ago, and we had an avian vet, Dr. Jeanne Smith, as our guest lecturer. I asked her about moults, because my parrots seems to never go through a "hard" moult, just dropping feathers here and there throughout the year, whereas my sister's bird seem to drop all their feathers in one big moult every year.

Dr. Smith's statement was that birds in the wild do not go through a hard moult, typically, and that such a moult is very stressful on the bird's body. I would consequently think that a product that induces a hard moult can't really be all that great for the bird.

I use Calciboost on my birds, and I did notice that when I used it on a phobic bird, the manufacturers recommended a much higher dosage of it than when used as a calcium supplement only, for a short period (I think it was two weeks), and this bird also went through a hard moult near the end of the treatment. (His phobia has also decreased significantly, so I guess it was worth it!) He now gets a normal dosage, as recommended on the container, along with my other birds, and he has never gone through such a moult again.

[fairestfinches]

We use Feather Fast for all of our birds and have even used it in our egg food to raise big healthy chicks. Feather Fast does not cause the moult to start as it sounds like you have stated. Please let me know if I misread that. Feather Fast is simply balalnced to provide more nutrients needed for feather replacement than other supplements. Gouldians do typically go through a hard moult as well as our Parrot Finches. Our Societies tend to loose and replace feathers year round. Each species tends to moult differently. I can not speak for the moulting of the Star Finch species because we do not have nay in our aviary, but I can say that Feather Fast does not cause molting to start.


Sean

[Sally]

I have Stars, Owls, and various waxbills, and the only species that has a pronounced molt is the Gouldian. The others tend to drop feathers at various times, and it is never as noticeable as with the Gouldians.

[rfn1]

Yes, I thought that Feather Fast had rushed one of my birds into a precipitous moult, but I conclude now (thanks to yours and others' replies) that is not the case. So I am using Feather Fast as a supplement with a couple of molting birds. Thanks to all who helped me "off the ledge" with this feather loss problem; the little star finch hen is doing fine. BTW, I separated her from her mate (and to a heated cage) because I literally caught the little meanie plucking her and I noticed she was puffy and sleeping during the day. She's healthy and active now, but I think I will keep her separated until she has recovered all of her feathers (which she is doing steadily now) and is strong enough to defend herself.

[Sally]

When you do put that Star hen back in with her mate, watch him carefully, old habits are hard to break and he might start plucking her again.

[rfn1]

Sally, on plucking, he didn't do that to her for the first six months, then they started to nest, but I pulled the nest and the nesting material and have decided not to breed them. How do I try to break him that plucking habit? Just keep them separate (for how long?) and hope it will fade now that nesting is out of the picture? Thanks in advance for advice

[fairestfinches]

Usually males pluck hens for a couple of reasons. The most common reasons are that the male is using her for nesting material, and if he is eating them he needs more protein or calcium. Try increasing his protien and calcium and that should help to keep him from plucking her if it is diet related. If it's the need for nesting materials make sure he ha s good supply so he'll leave her alone. The last thing could be that he is ready to breed and she is not so he is picking at her out of frustration.

Sean

[Sally]

He was probably plucking for nesting material. When you put them back together, be sure there is no nest in the cage, Stars don't sleep in nests. I have not had a problem with feather plucking with my Stars, but I have let them have nests and nesting material when they wanted it. If you want them to breed and do let them have a nest, mine use hay and coco fiber, and they like some white feathers to line the nest.